Sony's PlayStation 4 will go on sale the U.S. and Europe in time for the
year-end holiday season and cost US$399 - $100 less thn Microsoft's Xbox One - the company announced Monday at its E3 press briefing in Los Angeles.

In addition, Sony showcased a line-up of exclusive first and third party
content for PS4, PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) and PlayStation 3 systems,
and a next-generation PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) membership program.

"We are proud to unveil today the most advanced gaming system ever
created, PlayStation 4, which demonstrates everything PlayStation stands
for - a relentless focus on the gamer, an inspired community of
developers equipped with the most powerful technology, and the
long-standing legacy to building worlds without boundaries through
one-of-a-kind gaming experiences," said Jack Tretton, President and CEO
of SCEA. "What's equally exciting for us, however, is transforming the
PlayStation ecosystem into a stronger, more vibrant destination that
enables gamers to engage, share, play, and connect on their terms."

The PlayStation 4 (CUH-1000A series) will come in "Jet Black" color
and features a simple but modern design accentuated by its linear flat form factors. The surface of the PS4 body is subdivided into four sections, as if four blocks are stacked together making one figure, with disc slot, buttons, power indicator and vent placed within the slim interspace created between the sections. The power indicator designed atop the body will glow in a PlayStation blue color when the power button is turned on. The foreside and backside of the body is slightly angled; it not only gives users easy access to the power button and disc slot when placed either horizontally or vertically but also helps conceal the connected cables.

PS4 peripherals include the stand-alone Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 (DUALSHOCK 4) and PlayStation Camera, which will be available at launch for RRP of US$ 59, Canada $59, €59 and £54, and US$ 59, Canada $59, €49 and £44 respectively. Both accessories will come in "Jet Black" color.

Taking on Microsoft, Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, announced that the company would not try to restrict used game sales. Tretton also said the PS4 would not require a persistent online connection. In addition, the PlayStation 4 won't be locked-down according to geography (region lock).

"PlayStation 4 disc-based games don't need to be connected online to play or any type of authentication," said Tretton. "If you enjoy playing single-player games offline, PS4 won't require to you check in online period and it won't stop working if you haven't authenticated in 24 hours."

Microsoft has been criticized for its statements about whether it will allow buyers of its Xbox One to play secondhand software, as well as its requirement that the new console be connected to the Internet at least once every 24 hours.

SCE World Wide Studios (SCE WWS) is currently developing more than 30 PS4
exclusive titles, 20 of them, including 12 new IPs, are planned to
release within a year of the launch of the PS4 system. SCE WWS President
Shuhei Yoshida provided an update on PS4 exclusive titles, #DRIVECLUB,
Killzone Shadow Fall, KNACK, which will be available at launch, and
inFAMOUS Second Son, available first quarter 2014. He also unveiled
SCEA's next blockbuster title, The Order: 1886, from Ready at Dawn.

SCEA Vice President of Developer and Publisher Relations Adam Boyes
introduced a lineup of titles that will be making their console debut on
the PS4 system, including: Transistor by Super Giant, Don't Starve by
Klei Entertainment, Mercenary Kings by Tribute Games, Octodad: Deadliest
Catch by Young Horses, Secret Ponchos by SwitchBlade Monkeys, Outlast by
Red Barrels, Oddworld: New N Tasty by Oddworld Inhabitants and Galak-Z by
17-bit. Boyes also unveiled blockbuster content from Sony's key
publishing partners, including KINGDOM HEARTS III and FINAL FANTASY XV
from SQUARE ENIX, Ubisoft Entertainment, Assassin's Creed? IV Black Flag
and Watch_Dogs, 2K Sports's NBA 2K14, Bethesda Game Studios' The Elder
Scrolls Online, and the exclusive unveil of Warner Bros. Interactive
Entertainment's Mad Max. Bungie, one of the most celebrated developers in
the industry, was also on stage to introduce the world gameplay premiere
of Destiny. SCEA announced an exclusive partnership with Bungie and
Activision that will ensure that the PS4 ecosystem evolves and grows with
the incredible Destiny world.

SCEA also unveiled new details for PS Plus. With a single PS Plus
membership, gamers will enjoy all of the program benefits across the PS4,
PS3, and PS Vita systems.

PS Plus benefits include exclusive game discounts, cloud game saves,
early access to beta programs and content, and access to the Instant Game
Collection.

The Instant Game Collection, which provides PS Plus members immediate
access to a library of games, will extend to gamers on the PS4 system
along with online gameplay.

To celebrate the support of PS Plus on the PS4 system, SCEA will offer
the #DRIVECLUB PS Plus Edition to PS Plus members. In addition, one
digital title will be rotated each month, including three of the new
digital games introduced during the PlayStation E3 press conference,
Don't Starve, Outlast, and Secret Ponchos. These three titles will be
available at no extra cost via the Instant Game Collection during the
first year following the launch of the PS4 system. PS Plus members will
be able to enjoy a variety of other amazing PS4 titles, while enjoying
new ways to share their experiences with friends via online multiplayer,
broadcasting and spectating games, cross-game voice chat, and the ability
to join a friend's online game.

PS Plus membership can be purchased through PlayStation Store and is
available as a one-year membership for $49.99, a three-month membership
for $17.99, and a new a one-month membership option for $9.99*.

SCEA also announced that PlayStation's cloud gaming services will be
available in 2014 beginning in the United States. The cloud gaming
services will provide gamers on the PS4 and PS3 systems, followed by
gamers on the PS Vita system, with immediate access to a catalog of PS3
titles. These games will be streamed using Gaikai's proprietary network
technology.

More than 85 additional titles are slated to launch for the PS Vita
system by the end of 2013, expanding the current library of more than 125
PS Vita-dedicated games and more than 400 classic titles from the PSP and
PS one Classics catalogs.

Featured titles mentioned at the press conference include Batman: Arkham
Origins Blackgate, CounterSpy, Destiny of Spirits, Doki Doki Universe,
Killzone: Mercenary and Tearaway. In addition, SCEA announced that God of
War HD 1 and 2, Flower, and Dead Nation from SCE WWS, as well as Square
Enix's FINAL FANTASY X and X-2 and Telltale Game's The Walking Dead are
coming soon to the platform.

The Walking Dead on PS Vita will feature a new control scheme that gives
players the option to use the dual analog sticks and buttons or touch
controls unique to the platform. To celebrate the title's debut on PS
Vita, SCEA will offer a limited-edition bundle that includes a 3G/Wi-Fi
PS Vita, the complete first season of The Walking Dead game series
(including the newly announced Season One episode, 400 Days) and bonus
content.

Now in its seventh year, the PS3 system continues to experience
momentum. The PS3 system will offer a deep lineup of blockbuster titles,
indie games, and exclusive "only on" PlayStation content this year,
including Puppeteer, Rain, Gran Turismo 6, BEYOND: Two Souls, The Last of
Us, Batman: Arkham Origins and Grand Theft Auto V.

It seems that Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 house very similar silicon inside their respective bodies:

Xbox One

PlayStation 4

Price

$499

$399

Availability

November 2013

Holiday 2013

Blu-ray

Yes

Yes

Hard drive

Built-in (500GB)

Built-in (500GB)

Motion control

New Kinect (bundled)

Move controller

CPU

8-core x86 AMD

8-core x86 AMD

RAM

8GB DDR3

8GB GDDR5

USB 3.0

Yes

Yes

Wireless

Yes (802.11n w/Wi-Fi Direct)

Yes (802.11n)

Gigabit Ethernet

Yes

Yes

HDMI

Yes (in and out)

Yes

Suspend/resume game support

Yes

Yes

Background downloading

Yes

Yes

Native gameplay sharing (video)

Yes

Yes

Real-time gameplay steaming

Yes (Twitch)

Yes (Ustream)

Their biggest difference seems to be the type of RAM each uses. The PlayStation 4 uses 8GB GDDR5 RAM, while all signs point to the Xbox One using 8GB of DDR3 RAM. The GDDR5 RAM is the same type of RAM used by most PC video cards and is optimized for graphical throughput. In addition,
the PS4's GPU may have as much as 50 percent more raw graphical computational power than the one in the Xbox One.

In terms of handheld controllers, the Sony DualShock 4 differentiates itself with a clickable touch pad on the front. The DualShock 4's body includes a "light bar" in the front that enables motion control functionality with the PS4's Eye camera to track the position and identify where the controller is and, if need be, actually adjust the split-screen orientation during multiplayer couch gaming. The Xbox One will accomplish this with assistance from Kinect, as it automatically tracks who's holding which controller. The DualShock 4 also includes the social-focused Share button, a built-in speaker, and a headphone jack.

Every Xbox One unit will also come bundled with a second-generation Kinect. While the PS4 will be compatible with Sony's Move controller and new stereo camera, the company has yet to announce any plans to bundle them with the system.

In terms of entertainment and desides games, Microsoft's Xbox One is focused on more than simply a box to play video games on. It will
allow you to switch from game to TV show, to the Web, to a movie, to Skype, with just the sound of your voice.

The PS4 will not want for services like streaming video, but live TV integration is not currently on the table. You will see streaming video through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Redbox Instant, MLB TV, and Sony's own Video Unlimited Service.

As for game backward compatibility, Microsoft rejected the option, while Sony says is will come in 2014 when the company plans to to launch its cloud gaming service, which will include "critically acclaimed" PS3 games.